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[obeir]

KD6-3.7
3313 Creampuff Way


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[obeir]

[ The mention of "retirement" causes a flicker of unease in K's expression. He understands how it's meant, the word just holds very different connotations for him, normally. ]

Wouldn't be a bad way to pass the time. [ He agrees. ] Like learning to play the piano. Soon you'll have good wine and good music to go with it. [ Well. Relatively soon, maybe. He does intend to actually teach Royce, not just use the lessons as an excuse to see how flustered he can make him. ]

[devoutish]

Ah, don't worry; we're not gonna be old and dull.

[He says it lightly enough, but he's eyeing K a bit more seriously, wondering about that flicker there.]

Well. Not dull, at least.

[bywolves]

[ Royce also catches it, but he doesn't say anything. He takes his wine. ]

Mm. K offered to teach me how to play the piano, so you're right. Not dull in the least. [ Joking, lightly: ] Every time you come home I'll play something from Lord of the Rings to grandly welcome you to the house.

[obeir]

[ K also takes his wine and curiously tries it. He's never been much of a wine drinker, so has little to compare it to. But it isn't bad, just... new. ]

Thank you for returning those to the rec center, by the way. [ The movies, he means, from which he's slowly transcribing the score to piano. And to Alfie: ] Is it also a favourite film of yours? [ Because if it's so important to Royce, it stands to reason they've probably watched it together. ]

[devoutish]

You returned them to the rec center?

[Says Alfie, who has a terrible habit of "borrowing" movies and then keeping the ones they rewatch forever. If anyone else has gone to borrow The Lord of the Rings, The Prince of Egypt, or Fiddler on the Roof, it's almost certainly Royce that they have to thank.]

Well, there's three, of 'em, but yeah, they're excellent films. We've watched them all many times.

[bywolves]

I returned them specifically because K asked. [ Sniff. ] When he's done with them I intend on borrowing them again.

[ He could just wish for his own, but y'know. ]

[obeir]

I'll return them to you both once I've finished. [ K offers with a small smile, figuring he may as well save them the trip to the rec center. ] It shouldn't take too long, the music's very— distinct.

And I've been wondering. [ Glancing toward Royce. ] Is the Elvish language of your homeworld at all similar to Quenya and Sindarin? [ That multiverse quantum theory stuff again. ]

[bywolves]

There are similar words and sounds. [ Royce replies, in mostly fluid elvish. He's been teaching himself, so it's kind of stiff and formal, but hey. There's a translator that automatically lets K hear the words in whatever language he knows the best. ]

For the most part, it is its own language, though it does share similarities with languages from Earth, I have found.

[devoutish]

We're both learning.

[Adds in Alfie, tossing Royce a small smile.]

He's better than me.

[obeir]

[ Unfortunately the autotranslation does ruin the effect, though K picks up on the fact it's a different language by the way it almost sounds like Cityspeak to him, a mishmash of several languages that's common in the city he's from. ]

I can tell you're speaking another language, but it doesn't sound like Elvish to me. [ He points out with a curious look. It isn't the first time he's encountered this. ] Will it only sound the way it's meant to if I also know the language?

[bywolves]

I don't know exactly how Zephyr works when it comes to this. Renart mentioned that she'd asked Zephyr to turn the translation off when she and Monty were learning... Spanish, I think.

You have to make a significant effort to speak it. It can be annoying, sometimes.

[devoutish]

Spanish, really?

[Alfie arches an eyebrow. Why on Earth would they want to learn Spanish? is the clear message here.]

It's a shame we can't use it to talk without other people understanding, then. That's the best reason to learn another language, eh?

[He shoots a half-grin at K, this time.]

[obeir]

Spanish, yes. She's also mentioned it to me. But I didn't know Zephyr could make exceptions for people like that.

[ Then to Alfie: ] That would be very useful, would it not? [ K agrees, speaking in the most common Yiddish dialect of his time, just to see whether or not Alfie might understand it properly. His pronunciation might sound a bit off to someone from the 1920s, but otherwise he speaks it without a discernible accent. ]

[bywolves]

[ Royce lifts an eyebrow. He knows some Yiddish, because of Alfie, so he's interested that K seems to be able to speak it. Royce glances at Alfie, judging his reaction. ]

[devoutish]

[That reaction is, honestly, shock - not a bad kind of shock, but shock nonetheless. He exchanges a quick glance with Royce, then looks back at K, mouth hanging partway open.]

Fucking hell. Who taught you that?

[obeir]

I've always known it. [ He's always understood every language he encountered in his homeworld. Part of being the most advanced replicant model created for law enforcement, he can only assume. But speaking them is another matter, and he looks pleased to have apparently been understood clearly. Possibly by the both of them? ]

Shame my creators didn't anticipate me needing to arrest anyone in Elvish, or I imagine I'd know it too. [ An amused glance to Royce. You shady character, you. ]

[bywolves]

[ Snort. ] Sounds just a bit different than what I'm used to from Alfie, but it's close.

That must come in handy. How many languages do you know?

[devoutish]

If he know Yiddish, he must know a lot.

[Alfie continues in Yiddish, because why not. He figures Royce will be able to pick up most of that.]

Smart as a whip, this one. Very impressive.

[obeir]

[ Oh no a compliment. Largely undeserved, since it isn't as though K learned any of this the old-fashioned way through study and effort, but. It actually startles him into silence for a moment, it's such a rare occurrence for him, and then he's smiling. ]

More than I'll ever have need of. Covering every eventuality I guess. [ Taking his cue from Alfie, he'll also switch back, asking Royce: ] You also understand, then?

I feel like I've just joined a private club. [ Or a gang, if you will. ]

[bywolves]

[ Royce knows Yiddish well enough at this point that he can follow enough to catch the meaning. ]

I do understand. [ Royce replies, settling easily in his seat. Teasing: ] Might want to think hard about joining a private club with people like us.

[devoutish]

I teach him.

[Alfie continues, using simpler language for Royce's benefit - though that's becoming less and less necessary, now.]

I like knowing that we speak bits of each other's languages. It's a connection.

[obeir]

[ The teasing is met with an ernest response. ] I would consider myself lucky to be in such company.

[ Says the emotionally numb professional serial killer. Well, former, at least in some (very important) ways, and that's probably a good distinction to hold onto. Point being, there's a whole lot of moral grayness in this room and K's no exception. ]

You share a lot of things. [ He notes with a small smile. ] It seems nice. You've made wishes together, too? [ He's thinking back to the offer Royce made to him, before — helping him to wish for free will, essentially. He's still curious about these nuances with wishing, what difference it could make having someone helping him. ]

[bywolves]

[ Aw, K. Royce's expression shifts into something more flattered. K is charming, okay, and he's falling for it. Huff. ]

We've made a few. [ Royce says. He struggles here and there with words, but he manages. ] Most in relation to each other. We wished for buildings together too.

[devoutish]

Yes. We also live in a treehouse.

[That last word is said in English; it's not exactly a common word in London Yiddish, and if a word for it exists, Alfie doesn't know it. He nudges Royce, murmuring:]

You're doing well.

[obeir]

[ K's nefarious plan to make friends is working? Oh boy.

... A treehouse. It's not even surprising, and he isn't going to hide his amusement. ] Of course you do. The ideal home for one who whispers to trees.

What names have they given you both, anyway? [ Because now he needs to know. His own tree-given name has grown on him, as silly as it is. Just the fact he was given a name (of sorts) means more to him than he'll let on. ]